Baseball star, Catholic philanthropist Rusty Staub dies

By Catholic News Service

4/03/18

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Rusty Staub, 73, the New Orleans-born
Catholic baseball star who was a fan favorite in a well-traveled, 23-season
career, died March 29 in West Palm Beach following a heart attack.

Born Daniel Joseph Staub in 1944, he became the second player
after Ty Cobb to belt a major-league home run both before his 20th birthday and
after his 40th birthday. He also became the first player to collect 500 base hits
for four different teams: the Houston Astros, the Montreal Expos, the Detroit
Tigers and the New York Mets.

Former professional baseball star Rusty Staub smiles as he joins New York Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan in distributing Thanksgiving Day turkeys in the Harlem section of New York City in 2011. CNS photo/Gregory A. Shemitz

Staub, who honed his game at Jesuit High School in New Orleans,
endeared himself to fans of Montreal's expansion team by learning French. He became
known as "Le Grand Orange" for his unmistakable shock of red hair.

After retiring from baseball following the 1985 season, Staub
established the Rusty Staub Foundation, which collaborated with Catholic
Charities in supporting emergency food pantries. Before leaving the game, Staub
opened two restaurants in New York that bore his name.

Staub also established the New York Police and Fire Widows' and
Children's Benefit Fund, which has raised millions of dollars for the families
of first responders killed in the line of duty. The fund redoubled its efforts
following the 9/11 terror attacks that struck New York City in 2001.

"With all of New York, the Archdiocese of New York joins in
mourning the passing of our beloved Rusty Staub, New York Cardinal Timothy M.
Dolan said in a March 29 statement.

"Known as a great baseball player and teammate, Rusty was
also a great philanthropist, who did so much to support Catholic Charities,
Catholic schools, and our Catholic food pantries and food distribution
programs," the cardinal said. "Whenever we were together, he would
say, 'Tell me what you need, Cardinal,' and he would always come through."

A six-time All-Star, Staub was remembered by Jesuit High School
after his death.

"The baseball world lost a great man of the game," the
school said of Staub, who graduated from Jesuit High in 1961, on its website.
"Rusty was a great Blue Jay. In 1960, he was a member of the Jesuit
American Legion world championship team. In 1991, he was named Jesuit's Alumnus
of the Year."

Staub collected 2,716 hits, including 292 home runs, in his
big-league career. He starred for the Mets in their seven-game 1973 World
Series loss to the Oakland A's.

In one game with the Mets in 1985, Staub's last season, a
generation before infield and outfield shifts became common in the majors,
Staub — by this time principally a pinch-hitter — had to play in the outfield
in an extra-inning contest against the Pittsburgh Pirates because the Mets were
running out of players. Depending on whether the batter was right-handed or
left-handed, Mets manager Davey Johnson had Staub play the opposite field to
lessen the chance of a ball being hit in the 41-year-old's direction.

In the top of the 18th inning, Pirates pinch-hitter Rick Rhoden,
a right-handed hitter, lofted — as luck would have it — an opposite-field fly
ball in Staub's vicinity. Staub made a running catch below his knees near the
right-field line to prevent a run from scoring. "That was as fast as I
could run," Staub said after the game. The Mets won in the bottom of the
18th.

Staub never married. He is survived by a brother and two sisters.
The Mets had a moment of silence for Staub and another onetime Met, Ed Charles,
March 29 before their Opening Day win over St. Louis.